A source of strength when it matters most! A special feature on proverbs and quotes about disaster preparedness
Many of you have probably heard the saying, “Preparedness averts worry.” In fact, few people know that it originates from the ancient Chinese classic, the Book of Documents (Shujing).
In this way, our predecessors left many more words of wisdom about disaster preparedness.
In Japan, where natural disasters are common, age-old proverbs about disaster prevention still serve as vital lessons that protect lives today.
Tsunamis, earthquakes, typhoons, heavy rain…
Here are some long-passed-down proverbs on disaster preparedness to help you protect yourself from these hazards.
You’re sure to find hints that will heighten your awareness of disaster readiness.
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A source of strength when it counts! Collection of proverbs and famous quotes about disaster preparedness (1–10)
Earthquakes will strike again and again. To prevent severe damage, we will build parks and roads.Shinpei Gotō
I would like to introduce a famous quote left by Shinpei Goto: “Earthquakes will come again and again.
To prevent great damage, we must build parks and roads.” From this saying, one can sense his conviction to protect human life.
Shinpei Goto devoted himself to the reconstruction after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, making present-day Tokyo a city resilient to disasters.
Immediately after the earthquake, he became Minister of Home Affairs and then Minister for Reconstruction to rebuild Tokyo, which had suffered immense damage.
Along with the quote, he conceived reconstruction measures, but at the time he faced criticism from those around him.
It is said that enormous funds were required to put them into action, and landowners opposed the purchase of tracts that had been reduced to burned-out fields by the quake.
Although his budget was cut, Goto poured his efforts into building a disaster-resilient city.
Thanks to those efforts, Tokyo became stronger against earthquakes than it had been in the past.
If you endure, you will surely become a strong person.Senichi Hoshino
These are the words of Senichi Hoshino, who excelled as a player for the Chunichi Dragons during his career and later made his mark as a manager for the Chunichi Dragons, the Hanshin Tigers, and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
During the Great East Japan Earthquake, he was the manager of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, the team from the disaster-stricken region, and his words are remembered for inspiring many people.
He conveys that no matter what difficulties you face, you should give your all in the present and confront them head-on—that strength lies along the path you advance by doing so.
Because these are the words of Hoshino, who rebuilt teams whose results had faltered, they carry real persuasive power; they are words that lift your spirits and make you want to keep pushing forward.
What Japan gained after losing everything was hope… It planted the seeds of hope within us, who had been captivated by wealth.Ryu Murakami
I would like to share a famous quote by Ryū Murakami: “What Japan, having lost everything, gained was hope… It planted the seeds of hope within us, whose hearts had been captivated by wealth.” The Great East Japan Earthquake caused immense damage.
Many people must have spent their days in deep anxiety.
Yet it is precisely in such times that we must not forget “hope.” As the writer Ryū Murakami says, what we gain when everything is lost in a disaster is hope—the hope to live earnestly now and to dream of a brighter future.
In a Japan where everything is close at hand and life has become affluent, perhaps many of us have lost hope in exchange.
This also resonates with the story of Pandora’s box, in which hope remained at the end.
A Source of Strength in Times of Need! A Collection of Proverbs and Quotes About Disaster Preparedness (11–20)
Prepare pessimistically, act optimistically.Kazuo Inamori
Let me introduce a famous quote left by Kazuo Inamori: “Prepare pessimistically, act optimistically.” Kazuo Inamori was a Japanese entrepreneur and engineer.
He founded Kyocera and Daini Denden, which is now KDDI, and served as chairman of the Inamori Foundation, a public-interest incorporated foundation.
He was also honorary chairman of Japan Airlines.
In the planning stage, with a strong will that says, “No matter what, we must accomplish this,” one should reexamine the plan with a pessimistic eye; then, in the execution stage, with the confidence that “We can definitely do it,” one should carry it out optimistically—brightly and with dignity.
Doesn’t this conviction also apply to disaster preparedness?
If you prepare for the worst, there’s no harm in hoping for the best.Stephen King
Life is full of uncertainties, which is precisely why preparing for the worst matters.
By anticipating and preventing the worst-case scenarios, we can keep moving toward the best possible outcome.
It conveys that pursuing ideals is important, but so is preparing for the situations that could undermine them.
This quote encourages a balanced perspective between ideals and reality, guiding us toward steady, reliable progress.
He who fails to prepare is preparing to fail.Benjamin Franklin
This is a famous quote by Benjamin Franklin—remembered as a Founding Father in the United States—about the importance of preparation.
It’s a saying that corrects the attitude of those who neglect to prepare, conveying that failing to prepare sets the stage for failure.
By deliberately expressing in a roundabout way that preparation is essential to avoid failure, it even evokes a sense of fear about failing.
The words also suggest that, to prevent all kinds of failures, it’s important to prepare broadly and thoroughly.
I can imagine that many people are still struggling emotionally and mentally. So let’s keep supporting one another.Lady Gaga
This is a message Lady Gaga sent to the disaster-affected areas in 2021, ten years after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
It shows her affection for Japan by acknowledging that recovery is still not complete even after so much time, and that emotional support is still needed.
By standing firmly with those who are suffering and grieving while encouraging them to move forward, she gives many people courage and strength.
It also conveys the impression of a message that we must not let the passage of time erode or fade the memory of their pain.